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OLD TOWER PLAYS 



THE POOR BOY WHO 
BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 



THE POOR BOY WHO 
BECAME A GREAT 
WARRIOR 



A PLAY FOR BOYS 

BY 
PERRY BOYER CORNEAU 




OLD TOWER PRESS. LTD. 
CHICAGO 



P5 35:OS 



OLD TOWER PRESS. LTD. 

431 S. DEARBORN ST. 

CHICAGO 




COPYRIGHT 1922 
OLD TOWER PRESS, LTD. 

C'CLD niJKl 

JUN 15 1922 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A 
GREAT WARRIOR= 




This play, while it may be given indoors, is primarily in- 
tended for outdoor presentation. The stage in this case 
need be only an open space with bushes as a background. 
The camp fire — whicli the Poor Boy keeps going during the 
play — gives the illumination, if the play is presented at 
night. The fire should be placed a little to one side of the 
stage and between the actors and the audience. In order 
to keep the light from shining in the eyes of the onlookers 
the fire should be made in a hole about a foot deep and 
further screened bj- a boulder or a heap of large stones or 
turf. Entrances and exits are made from and into the 
circle of darkness beyond the fire-light. 

The Vision which appears to the Poor Boy stands on a 
ladder concealed in the bushes and makes his appearance 
from among the leaves. To heighten the effect the light 
from a pocket electric light, held by someone hidden in the 
leaves below, may be thrown on his face. It also may be 
effective to have his lines delivered in unison with a single 
note played upon the violin or some wind instrument. The 
spirit voices in the distance should be rendered by as many 
voices as possible as far away as it is convenient for them 
to get, and very softly. 

The teepee of the Chief may be shown or not as desired. 
If the performance takes place outdoors at night the cos- 
tumes need be only of the simplest, blankets and easily- 
made feather head-dresses being sufficient. 

All but the Poor Boy wear large feather head-dresses. 
He has only one small feather stuck carelessly in his hair. 

The Medicine Stick may be a pole decorated at one end 
with feathers and leather thongs. 



PEOPLE OF THE PLAY 



The Poor Boy 

The Chief 

The Hostile Indian 

The Vision 

Six Warriors 



The story of the play is based on an ancient 
legend of the Pawnee tribe. 






THE POOR BOY 
WHO BECAME A 
GREAT WARRIOR 

ACT ONE 

(The POOR BOY comes in and throws some sticks on 

the fire.. He then sits down beside it.) 
(The FIRST WARRIOR comes in.) 

POOR BOY 
Give me something to eat. 

(The WARRIOR stops and looks at him.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
What do you want something- to eat for? 

POOR BOY 
Because I'm hungry. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Why are you hungry? 

POOR BOY 
Because I haven't anything to eat. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Why don't you get something to eat? 

POOR BOY 

That's what I'm trying to do ; but you won't give 
me anything. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Go into the woods and kill game. 

5 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
POOR BOY 

I can't. I have no weapons. I am only a poor boy 
who has to sit by the fire to keep warm. I can't 
even get myself warm clothes. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Well, here's something for you. 

(He tosses some food to the POOR BOY and crossing 
over to the other side sits down on the ground. The 
POOR BOY holds up the piece of food, which is very 
tiny, and looks at it a moment before he eats it.) 

(The SECOND and THIRD WARRIORS come in.) 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Have they brought the medicine stick out yet? 

POOR BOY 
I don't know. I'm hungry. Give me something 
to eat. 

SECOND W^ARRIOR 
Eat? I 

(Turning to THIRD WARRIOR) 
Too much eating Bad bad 

(They cross over and sit down beside the FIRST WAR- 
RIOR.) 
(The FOURTH WARRIOR comes in.) 

POOR BOY 
Give me something to eat. 

FOURTH WARRIOR 
I gave you something to eat two nights ago. Do 
you want to be eating all the time? 
(He goes over and sits down by the others.) 
(The FIFTH WARRIOR comes in wrapped in a 
blanket.) 

6 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
POOR BOY 

Give me something to eat. Give me something 
to eat. 
(The FIFTH WARRIOR unwraps his head very slowly. 
Then he looks hard at the POOR BOY for a long 
time.) 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
Ugh! 

(He slowly wraps his head up again and crosses over 
and sits with the others. The SIXTH WARRIOR 
comes in.) 

POOR BOY 
Big Warrior, Big Warrior, give me something to 
eat. 

SIXTH WARRIOR , 

Get a bow and arrow and a tomahawk and go into 
the woods and get your own food. When the 
Big Warrior was only five years old he had al- 
ready killed a bear. 
(The SIXTH WARRIOR pounds his chest proudly.) 
You are lazy. Ugh ! 

(He strikes the POOR BOY and then goes over and sits 

down with the other WARRIORS.) 
(The CHIEF comes in carrying the medicine stick. 
The WARRIORS gather around him.) 

POOR BOY 
I'm hungry. 

(Nobody pays any attention to him.) 
CHIEF 
Here is the sacred medicine stick. I am going to 
put it here in the center of our camp so that it 
will bring us luck in the hunting. For the season 
of abundant game is now upon us. 
(He fastens the medicine stick upright in the ground.) 
Warriors, watch it well. 

7 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

FIRST WARRIOR 

No one would dare to steal it from the middle of 

our camp with so many brave warriors about. 

(The SIXTH WARRIOR pounds his chest proudly.) 

CHIEF 
But gnand it well just the same. The hostile 
tribe down by the river would give anything to 
have it. It is a powerful charm and brings good 
luck in hunting. Watch it well. 

THIRD WARRIOR 
Trust us, great Chief. We are mighty warriors. 
No one would dare to come into our camp. 
(The SIXTH WARRIOR pounds his chest. The FIFTH 
WARRIOR unwraps his head slowly.) 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
Ugh! 

(He wraps his head up again and stalks away.) 

CHIEF 
I go to my teepee. I am very old. And an old man 
needs sleep. 
(The HOSTILE INDIAN sticks his head out of the 

bushes. No one notices him. He disappears.) 
(The CHIEF is going out; but the POOR BOY stops 
him.) 

POOR BOY 
Big Chief, listen ! 

CHIEF 
Speak. The old Chief listens, even to a poor boy. 

POOR BOY 
I am hungry. I am hungry all the time. The 
warriors ask me why I do not go out and kill 
game. I can't. I have no weapons. Will you 
8 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

give the Poor Boy weapons so that he can go 
and kill game and get enough to eat and skins to 
keep him warm? 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
(To the FIFTH WARRIOR) 
Do you hear what the Poor Boy is asking the 
Chief? 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
(Unwrapping his head) 
Ugh! 

(He wraps himself up again.) 

CHIEF 
Why should I give you weapons? You are only a 
poor boy. You would not know how to use them. 

POOR BOY 

Great Chief, if I had weapons I would be a mighty 

warrior. I can run farther and faster than any of 

the braves. 

(He stoops and picks up a heavy log and throws it on 
the fire.) 

No one of the warriors could lift so heavy a log. 

THIRD WARRIOR 
The Poor Boy thinks that would make him a great 
warrior. 
(The WARRIORS grunt in derision.) 

CHIEF 

Poor Boy, you speak foolishly. The Warriors are 
making fun of you. Besides being poor you are 
9 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

• too young to become a warrior. Be content; 

and keep your warm place by the fire. 
Warriors, watch well the sacred medicine stick. 

(The CHIEF goes into his tent.) 

(The HOSTILE INDIAN puts his head out of the 
bushes again for a moment.) 

POOR BOY 
Nobody will give me weapons ! What is going to 
become of me? 

FIRST WARRIOR 
I shot a wild turkey today. Warriors, gather about 
the fire and share it with me. 

THIRD WARRIOR 
I have some big artichokes. We will eat them with 
the turkey. 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Something to eat ! Ugh ! Ugh ! Warriors, I can 
hardly wait for that turkey. 

POOR BOY 
(Mimicking the SECOND WARRIOR) 
You said just now that too much eating was bad 

bad 

It makes a difference who does the eating. 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Drive this boy away from the fire. 

POOR BOY 
Oh, please, big warriors, let me stay and have some 
of the turkey. 

10 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

THIRD WARRIOR 
If he had his way he would be eating all the timeo. 
I gave him some meat day before yesterday ; and 
here he is asking for something to eat again ! 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Drive him away. 

(They strike the POOR BOY and drive him away from 
the fire. He goes to a little distance, shivering, and 
sits with his head hidden in his hands.) 
(The WARRIORS gather about the fire and cook and 
eat their food.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Put some more wood on the fire. 

SECOND WARRIOR 
The Chief is becoming an old woman. He thinks 
all the time the hostile tribe is going to attack us. 
THIRD WARRIOR 
They would not dare to. We are the greatest war- 
riors in the whole country. 

FOURTH WARRIOR 

The Chief is afraid the Medicine Stick will he 

stolen. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 

(Pounding his chest.) 
He forgets who is on guard. 

(The HOSTILE INDIAN, unseen by the WARRIORS, 
comes out of the bushes and begins to creep very 
slowly toward the place where the Medicine Stick is 
standing. He carries a tomahawk ready lifted in his 
hand; and every now and then he raises his head to 
watch the WARRIORS. And every now and then he 
throws himself flat on the grass and lies still for a 
moment or so. The WARRIORS about the fire eat 
and talk. The POOR BOY sits at a distance with his 
head in his hands.) 

11 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

SECOND WARRIOR 
That turkey is cooked. I can't wait any longer. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
(Bending over the fire.) 
Yes, it is cooked. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Let us eat. 

(They begin to devour the turkey and artichokes.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
(To FIFTH WARRIOR) 
Will you have a piece of this turkey? 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
(Unfolding his blanket, quickly this time, and snatching 
the piece of turkey.) 
Ugh ! ! 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
I wish the hostile tribe would attack us. Then I 
could get scalps. I am big warrior, big warrior. 
(He pounds his chest.) 

FOURTH WARRIOR 

Stop! What is that noise? 

(The WARRIORS spring to their feet and look in the 
direction of the HOSTILE INDIAN, who hides by 
throwing himself down in the grass and remaining 
absolutely quiet. The WARRIORS remain silent a 
moment, listening.) 

THIRD WARRIOR 
I heard nothing. 

SECOND WARRIOR 
I heard a sound something there in the grass. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
It is the Poor Boy over there. 

12 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Of course. 

FOURTH WARRIOR 
I thought it might be the hostile tribe attacking. 
Their village is only a quarter of a short night's 
march away. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
They would not dare to attack us. 

(The HOSTILE INDIAN begins to crawl toward the 
Medicine Stick again.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
They dared to attack us two years ago. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Yes, but you should remember, I, the big warrior, 
was sick with a fever at the time. 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
(Unwrapping his blanket and looking at SIXTH WAR- 
RIOR.) 
Ugh! 

(The SIXTH WARRIOR turns and looks at the FIFTH 
WARRIOR, who quickly wraps his head up again.) 

SECOND WARRIOR 

(Who has been busy with the turkey.) 

Good turkey ! Good for people to eat good 

good 

(He pats his stomach.) 

THIRD WARRIOR 
Let's sit down by the fire again. 
(They sit down.) 

FOURTH WARRIOR 
Let's tell stories. 

13 



THE POOR BOY WHO BE(1\ME A GREAT WARRIOR 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
I will tell you about the time that I, the big war- 
rior, scalped four men all by myself. 

. (The HOSTILE INDIAN has by this time reached the 
Medicine Stick. He tries to pull it from the ground 
without getting up. But it is liard to do. So he has 
to stand up. He pulls the stick from the ground and 
starts to run. The FIRST WARRIOR sees l.im and 
utters a wild yell. All the WARRIORS spring to 
their feet and pursue the HOSTILE INDIAN except 

,< the SIXTH WARRIOR, who. at the first alarm, runs 
over in the opposite direction and hides behind a pile 
of rocks or a tree stump. The HOSTILE INDIAN, 
with a yell of defiance, dives into the bushes. The 
WARRIORS follow him. Their cries grow fainter in 
the distance. The POOR BOY gets up and watches, 
but as he has no weapons, does not join in the 
pursuit. The CHIEF comes out of his teepee.) 

CHIEF 

Poor Boy. what has happened? 

POOR BOY 

Great Chief. I do not know. I was sitting- with my 

head in my hands. I felt very sorrowful. I 

■ heard a yell. I looked up. The warriors were 

chasing someone through the bushes. 

(The CHIEF looks around. He notices that the Med- 
' • icine Stick is gone.) 

CHIEF 

The Medicine Stick!!! Misfortune will come 

upon our tribe! Our Medicine Stick is stolen! 
(The WARRIORS return.) 

CHIEF 

Warriors, where is the Medicine Stick? 

14 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Oh, great Chief, a large band of hostile Indians 
came upon us as we sat eating before the fire and 
stole it before we could catch them. 
CHIEF 
You pursued them. Did you not get it back? 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Great Chief, they ran too swiftly for us. We are 
warriors who are not accustomed to run. 

POOR BOY 
No one can run who is stuffed with turkey. 

CHIEF 
You are women instead of warriors ! Did I not tell 
you to watch and to watch well? The great 
Chief is very angry. Without the Medicine Stick 
bad luck will come to the tribe. Woe! Woe! 

FIRST WARRIOR 
We will attack their village and bring the Medicine 
Stick back. 

CHIEF 
Well spoken ! Warriors, will you go on the war- 
path? 

ALL 
We will. 

FOURTH WARRIOR 

(Looking about.) 
Where is the Big Warrior? 

SECOND WARRIOR 

Perhaps he is still ])ursuing the enemy. 

(The SIXTH WARRIOR comes out from his hiding 
place.) 

15 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

FIRST WARRIOR 
The Big Warrior is here ! 

THIRD WARRIOR 
He has been hiding. He was afraid of the enemy. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
You talk big; but you are a coward. 
SECOND WARRIOR 
Tell us no more stories of your bravery. 

CHIEF 
He shall be driven from our village. We shelter no 
cowards. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Great Chief, the warriors speak without thinking, 
as always. Does not the great Chief understand 
why I, the big warrior, remained behind? 

FIRST WARRIOR 
You remained behind because you were afraid. 

CHIEF 
Let the Big Warrior speak. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Great Chief, the warriors do not think. I, the big 
warrior, do think. They all ran after the enemy. 
Suppose when they were gone the enemy had 
come into the village from this side. What would 
they find? Me, the Big Warrior, waiting for 
them. 

CHIEF 

You are right. The Big Warrior is cunning as 

well as brave. 
(The SIXTH WARRIOR pounds his chest.) 
16 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

FIFTH WARRIOR 
Ugh! 

CHIEF 
Are you ready now to go on the war path? 

ALL 
We are ready. 

CHIEF 
Then begin the war dance. 

(The tom-tom begins to sound.) 

But do not start for the village of the enemy until 

after midnight. Now they are awake because 

they have just come back from attacking us. 

Wait until they are asleep. Now begin the dance, 

(They begin to sing the War Path Song and to dance 

the war dance. The POOR BOY looks on as if he 

would like to take part, but does not dare to. They 

dance faster and sing more loudly every moment until 

they are exhausted. One by one they go out.) 

CHIEF 

(To the WARRIORS as they go out.) 
Go, now, and prepare your weapons. Come back to 
the fire at midnight. 

POOR BOY 
Great Chief, listen to me. Give me weapons. All 
the men of the tribe are going on the war path. I 
will have to stay here alone because I have no 
tomahawk nor knife nor bow to fight with. Give 
me weapons so I can fight the enemy and bring 
the Medicine Stick back. 

CHIEF 
Only a warrior goes on the war path. You must 
stay at home and see that the fire does not go out. 
17 



THE POOR BOY WTIO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
POOR BOY 

But great Chief 

CHIEF 

Do not bother me. 

(The CHIEF goes to his tent.) 

(The POOR BOY lies down on the ground and goes to 
sleep. After he has been asleep a moment or so the 
fire burns with a greenish flame ; and suddenly in the 
bushes, high above his head, appears a figure with a 
magnificent head-dress. The figure glows with a 
strange light. The POOR BOY sits up in wonder.) 

VISION 
Poor Boy, your voice has been heard in the Spirit 
Land. Your tears have fallen like rain upon us. 
When you have been hungry we have been hungry 
too. The Great Spirit has sent me to tell you 
that your days of trouble are almost over. Do as 
I tell you ; and you will become the greatest war- 
rior of your tribe. 

POOR BOY 
What shall I do, O mighty Spirit? 

VISION 
Go at once to the Chief and tell him what you have 
seen. He knows me. Tell him I bid him give 
you weapons. Say it is my command that you 
be allowed to go on the war path with the war- 
riors. 

POOR BOY 
But, O wonderful Spirit, he will not believe me. 
He wil; not listen to me because I am only a 
poor boy. 

18 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAMK A GREAT WARRIOR 
VISION 

He will listen to the word of a Spirit. Show him 
this sign. 
(The VISION crosses his arms above his head.) 

VISION 

Do as I command you ; and have no fear. Those 
who are poor and those who are ill-treated are not 
without friends. The race of Spirits hear and 
do not forget. 

O-ha-ye ! O-ha-ye ! 

VOICES 
(As if from an immense distance.) 
O-ha-ye ! O-ha-ye ! 

(The VISION vanishes. The POOR BOY jumps to his 
feet, rubbing his eyes.) 

POOR BOY 

Great Chief! Great Chief! 

CHIEF 
(Coming from his teepee.) 

Has the village been attacked? Why do you 

make so much noise? 

POOR BOY 
I have seen a vision. A Spirit came to me. He 
bids you give me weapons. He commands you 
to let me go on the war path. 

CHIEF 
Poor Boy. you have been dreaming. Do not dis- 
turb me any more. 

POOR BOY 

The Snirit said you knew him. He made this sign. 
(The POOR BOY makes the sign.) 
19 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
CHIEF 

You know the sacred sign. The Spirit must indeed 
have appeared to you. Come with me ; and I will 
give you weapons. 

POOR BOY 

Thank you, Great Chief. 

(The CHIEF and the POOR BOY go out.) 
(The tom-tom begins to beat softly. The WARRIORS 
enter.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
It is time. 

THIRD WARRIOR 

I can hardly wait to feel their scalps in my fingers. 
(The CHIEF comes in followed by the POOR BOY. 
The POOR BOY has now the arms of a warrior.) 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Look ! He has given the Poor Boy weapons. 

CHIEF 
I have given the Poor Boy weapons. He is going 
with you to bring back the Medicine Stick. And 
woe to you if you do not bring it back ! Terrible 
misfortunes will befall our tribe. To the warrior 
who brings it back I will make splendid gifts. 
He shall also share my power with me. I have 
spoken. Go ! 
(The CHIEF goes out.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
We cannot take this Poor Boy with us. He is so 
clumsy the enemy will hear him coming and be 
prepared. 

20 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
He must not come with us. He has not the courage 
of a warrior. 

THIRD WARRIOR 
It would be a disgrace to have him with us, 

POOR BOY 
I am going with you. The Chief said so. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
You may go. But you will have to go alone. Come, 
Warriors ! 
(The sound of the tom-tom grows louder. The WAR- 
RIORS begin to sing the War Path Song. They be- 
gin the dance. Then, single file, they disappear in the 
bushes. Their song becomes fainter in the distance. 
The POOR BOY stands looking after them.) 

POOR BOY 
Then I will go alone. I will show them. I will 
fight the enemy alone. And I will bring back the 
Medicine Stick, too. They shall see that I am a 
warrior. The Spirits are my friends. I am a 
warrior at last ! 
(He begins to sing the War Path Song and creeps off 
into the bushes.) 

END OF THE FIRST ACT 





ACT TWO 



SCENE: The same as the preceding act. 

(The CHIEF comes out of his teepee, peers out into the 
darkness, stands as if listening intently, then begins to 
pace up and down as if in great anxiety.) 

THE CHIEF 

(Talking to himself.) 

Not a sound They should be back by now 

What can have happened? What can have 

happened? ■ — — 1 will go in and try to sleep again. 

If the medicine stick is not recovered 

Woe and misfortune ! 

(The CHIEF goes into his teepee.) 

(The POOR BOY enters cautiously, carrying the med- 
icine stick.) 

POOR BOY 

(Triumphantly, to himself.) 

I've got it! I, the Poor Boy! Oh, I am so 

tired and sleepy ! 

(He lies down by the fire, the medicine stick beside 

him, and instantly falls asleep.) 
(Far-off music is heard, and a voice calling. The 
VISION appears as before.) 

22 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 



VISION 

Poor Boy ! Poor Boy ! - 



POOR BOY 

(Rising on one knee and stretching out his arms.) 

Oh, mighty Spirit 

VISION 
Poor Boy, have you become a warrior? 

POOR BOY 
Mighty Spirit, I have become a warrior. The braves 
of the hostile tribe have fled before me. And I 
have brought back the sacred medicine stick. 
VISION 
You have done well. But many troubles are still 
before you. Does your tribe yet know you for 
the great warrior that you are? 

POOR BOY 

No. For when I fought, I fought alone. No one 
of my tribe saw me. I did not go with our 
warriors. They would not let me. I crept into 
the hostile village from the other side. When 
in the distance I heard our braves attacking I 
entered. I drove away the warriors who were 
guarding the medicine stick and seized it. Then 
I pursued these hostile warriors. They fled from 
me. I came to the place where they were fighting 
with our warriors. With my tomahawk I rushed 
among them. All fled. Then I came back here 
beside the fire. 

VISION 

But how will the Chief and the warriors know all 
this if no one saw you? 

23 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
POOR BOY 

I shall tell them. 

VISION 
Will they believe you? 

POOR BOY 

(Slowly.) 
No . You are right. They will not be- 
lieve me. They will not pay any attention to me. 
I am the Poor Boy still. What shall I do, mighty 
Spirit, what shall I do? 

VISION 
Listen to my words ; and I will guide you, 

POOR BOY 
I am listening, mighty Spirit. 

VISION 
First of all, hide the medicine stick. 

POOR BOY 

I will do it, mighty Spirit. Then ? 

VISION 
A great warrior does not boast of his deeds. They 
will taunt and abuse you. But you must keep 
silent. And do not grieve ; for in spite of all the 
truth will be known. 

POOR BOY 

It is hard, mighty Spirit . 

VISION 
Do not despair. A man does great and brave deeds. 
He thinks no one knows. But we of the Spirit 
Land know. He is scorned. But we of the Spirit 
24 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

Land do not scorn him. And in the course of 
time the truth becomes known ; and he who was 
scorned is honored. However lowly he is, if he 
does his work well, let him not think that it is 
forgotten. 

I have spoken. Remember my words. 
(Calling.) 

O-ha-ye ! O-ha-ye ! 

SPIRIT VOICES 
(In the distance) 
O-ha-ye ! O-ha-ye ! 

(The VISION disappears.) 

(The POOR BOY sinks back on the ground. After a 

moment he wakens and sits up, bewildered, rubbing 

his eyes. Then, he recollects the words of the 
Vision. He takes the medicine stick and goes off 

into the bushes with it. After a moment the CHIEF 

comes in.) 

CHIEF 

The warriors are not back yet ! 
(The POOR BOY comes in again.) 

CHIEF 
Poor Boy, where are the warriors? 

POOR BOY 
I do not know, great Chief. 

CHIEF 
You have come back alone ! You, did not stay with 
the warriors. Give me back the weapons I gave 
you. You are no warrior. You have deserted 
your comrades on the war path. Your weapons ! 
(The CHIEF takes the Poor Boy's weapons from him.) 
25 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
CHIEF 

Go sit by the fire where you belong. You are no 
warrior. Never ask me for weapons again. 

POOR BOY 

Great Chief 

(He stops, remembering the advice of the Vision.) 

CHIEF 

Can the warriors have been defeated? Hark! 

(A faint noise is heard in the distance.) 

POOR BOY 

They are coming. 

CHIEF 
Silence, Poor Boy. 

(The WARRIORS come in. They are out of breath 
from running. Their clothing is torn. Their head- 
dresses are falling from their heads.) 

CHIEF 
Warriors, where is the medicine stick? 

FIRST WARRIOR 
We did not find it, great Chief. 

CHIEF 
Woe ! Woe ! The medicine stick is lost. Mis- 
fortune will come upon us. Warriors you 

are not warriors ; you are women. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Great Chief, we fought bravely. But they were 
ready for us. Still w^e fought them. Then sud- 
denly a band of terrible warriors fell upon them 
and upon us. The hostile tribe fled. And we 
fled, too. 

26 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
CHIEF 

You fled! 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Chief, there were thousands of them. 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
I, the big warrior, killed multitudes of them. But 
what could we do? 

FOURTH WARRIOR 
We fled a long way around through the woods. 
Great Chief, what shall we do if they come to 
this village? 

SECOND WARRIOR 
Let us get something to eat first. We can't fight 

when we're hungry. Bad to be hungry bad 

bad ^-^ 

CHIEF 
Do you think only of things to eat? Bring back 
the medicine stick or never dare to call yourselves 
warriors again. 
(The CHIEF goes out.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Where is the Poor Boy? 

FOURTH WARRIOR 
Here he is, sitting by the fire. 

THIRD WARRIOR 
Where are your weapons? 

POOR BOY 

The Chief took them away from me. 

27 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

FIFTH WARRIOR 

Ugh! 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
He has been sitting by the fire all the time while 
we, the big warriors, were fighting. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
He is always asking for weapons. When he has 
them he is afraid to use them. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
The Chief is angry with us. Why isn't he angry 
with the Poor Boy, too? 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Coward ! 

(He strikes the POOR BOY, who with difficulty re- 
frains from striking back.) 

THIRD WARRIOR 
Drive him from our camp ! 

(A shout is heard outside. The HOSTILE INDIAN 
appears. The WARRIORS give a howl of terror and 
start to run away. The SIXTH WARRIOR stumbles 
and falls flat on the ground. He gets up hurriedly 
and hides behind a bush or the stump of a tree.) 

FIRST WARRIOR 
He is making the peace sign. Come back ! 

(The WARRIORS return, all except the SIXTH WAR- 
RIOR, who remains in his hiding place.) 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
Warriors, I bring peace. 

FIRST WARRIOR 

Welcome, bringer of peace ! Call the Chief. 

28 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 

WARRIORS 
Great Chief ! Great Chief ! 
(The CHIEF enters.) 

CHIEF 
You have called me, warriors. Has the medicine 
stick been brought back? 

FIRST WARRIOR 
One of the hostile tribe has come, offering us peace. 

CHIEF 
There can be no peace until the sacred medicine 
stick is returned to us. 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
I do not understand your meaning. Your warriors 
have already brought the sacred stick to your 
camp. 

CHIEF 
Is this so? Warriors, speak, where is it? 

(The WARRIORS look at one another in bewilder- 
ment.) 

CHIEF 
Speak! Why do you not answer? 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Great Chief, we have not seen the medicine stick. 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
A mighty warrior was with your braves when they 
attacked our camp. He came alone upon us from 
the further side. He killed our bravest warriors 
and carried off the medicine stick. We fled be- 
fore him ; but we are not ashamed. He is a great 
29 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GBEAT WARBIOR 

warrior. Question him. He will know where 
your medicine stick is. Where is the great war- 
rior? 

ALL THE WARRIORS 
I am the great warrior. 

HOSTILE INDIAN 

(Looking them over carefully.) 
Ugh ! These are not warriors. 

CHIEF 
That is true. But there are no others. 

(The POOR BOY gets up to put some wood on the 
fire. The HOSTILE INDIAN recognizes him.) 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
There he is ! The great warrior ! 

THIRD WARRIOR 
(Laughing.) 
And it's only the Poor Eoy ! 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
(Approaching the POOR BOY deferentially.) 
Mighty warrior, my tribe sends me to you to ask 
for peace. You have taken away the medicine 
stick. You have conquered our warriors. 
(The CHIEF and the WARRIORS gather around them 
in astonishment.) 

CHIEF 
What are you saying? The medicine stick? 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
This warrior seized it and bore it out through the 
midst of our camp though six of our braves 
threw themselves upon him. 
30 



THE POOR BOY WHO BECAME A GREAT WARRIOR 
CHIEF 

You are mistaken. This is no warrior. It is only 
the Poor Boy. He knows nothing about the med- 
icine stick. 

POOR BOY 
Great Chief, send someone into the bushes. Let 
him look in the third bush in the direction of the 
sunrise from the great tree. 

CHIEF 
(To the THIRD WARRIOR) 
Search the bushes. 
(The THIRD WARRIOR goes out.) 

CHIEF 
Where is the big warrior? Perhaps in the darkness 
this warrior mistook him for the Poor Boy. 

FIRST WARRIOR 
Yes. Where is the big warrior? 

ALL 
(Calling) 
Big Warrior! Big Warrior! 

(The SIXTH WARRIOR sticks his head out from his 
hiding place.) 

SIXTH WARRIOR 
Has he gone? 

(The HOSTILE INDIAN turns round and looks at him. 
The SIXTH WARRIOR sees him, and with a howl 
of terror, jumps up and runs off.) 

ALL THE WARRIORS 
(Derisively) 
Big Warrior! Big Warrior! 

(The THIRD WARRIOR comes out of the bushes 
carrying the Medicine Stick.) 

31 



THE POOR BOY WHO BPX.AME A GREAT WARJl^IOR 
POOR BOY 

Great Chief, did 1 speak the truth? 

CHIEF 
You are the greatest warrior of our tribe. 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
Mighty warrior, accept these gifts. 

CHIEF 
You are chief next to me. 

(The CHIEF and the HOSTILE INDIAN give the 
POOR BOY a great feather head dress and weapons 
and long strings of beads.) 

HOSTILE INDIAN 
Let there be a lasting peace between our tribes. 

CHIEF 

Warriors, begin the dance of victory. 

(The tom-tom sounds. The WARRIORS begin to dance 
and sing the Victory Song.) 



END OF THE PLAY 




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